ALEX Lesson Plans

Title: Let's take a walk...Peter Jenkins style.
Description:
Students will complete a research-based creative project that has them envisioning where they would go and what they would if they walked across America like the author Peter Jenkins in the novel A Walk across America. This project is cross-curricular as it has students working on budgets, using maps and place-specific information, and writing narratives.
This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (9) 26: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation. [W.9-10.7]

Subject: English Language Arts (9) Title: Let's take a walk...Peter Jenkins style.Description: Students will complete a research-based creative project that has them envisioning where they would go and what they would if they walked across America like the author Peter Jenkins in the novel A Walk across America. This project is cross-curricular as it has students working on budgets, using maps and place-specific information, and writing narratives.
This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Title: "The Princess Bride" Chapter 1: As You Wish
Description:
Before, during and after reading activities for Chapter 1 of "The Princess Bride" for students to cite textual evidence. A journal entry at the beginning of lesson to generate pre-reading ideas, during reading questioning, and after reading activity to teach citing evidence.
This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (9) 22: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences. [W.9-10.3]

Subject: English Language Arts (9) Title: "The Princess Bride" Chapter 1: As You WishDescription: Before, during and after reading activities for Chapter 1 of "The Princess Bride" for students to cite textual evidence. A journal entry at the beginning of lesson to generate pre-reading ideas, during reading questioning, and after reading activity to teach citing evidence.
This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Title: Com'on Down To Eatonville, Florida
Description:
You are Mayor Joe Starks from the book Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, and you want more people to relocate to Eatonville, Florida. Identify five amenities that may make Eatonville attractive to African-Americans looking for a place to establish themselves. Using these amenities, draft a thirty to sixty second audio advertisement or draft a one-hundred word advertisement to be published in the Orlando Sentinel.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (11) 21: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences. [W.11-12.3]

Subject: English Language Arts (9 - 11) Title: Com'on Down To Eatonville, FloridaDescription: You are Mayor Joe Starks from the book Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, and you want more people to relocate to Eatonville, Florida. Identify five amenities that may make Eatonville attractive to African-Americans looking for a place to establish themselves. Using these amenities, draft a thirty to sixty second audio advertisement or draft a one-hundred word advertisement to be published in the Orlando Sentinel.

Title: Unfortunate Fortunato
Description:
You are a local police detective, your task is to investigate the disappearance of Fortunata. Retrace his steps leading up to his disappearance. Remember to interview anyone that may have seen him that night. After gathering all of your information, write a detailed missing person's report on behalf of Fortunato's family detaining Fortunato's last day on earth.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (10) 39: Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening. [L.9-10.3]

Subject: English Language Arts (9 - 10) Title: Unfortunate FortunatoDescription: You are a local police detective, your task is to investigate the disappearance of Fortunata. Retrace his steps leading up to his disappearance. Remember to interview anyone that may have seen him that night. After gathering all of your information, write a detailed missing person's report on behalf of Fortunato's family detaining Fortunato's last day on earth.

Title: Hands, Hands, Hands - Writing a Narrative Essay from the Perspective of a Particular Hand
Description:
The teacher will show pictures of six hands to students. (See attachment) After a brainstorming session, students will choose one hand that illustrates a particular story from their life. Then, students will write a two page narrative essay about this story. These stories will be posted on a class blog to allow for feedback and discussion from classmates.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (7) 22: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences. [W.7.3]

Subject: English Language Arts (7 - 10) Title: Hands, Hands, Hands - Writing a Narrative Essay from the Perspective of a Particular HandDescription: The teacher will show pictures of six hands to students. (See attachment) After a brainstorming session, students will choose one hand that illustrates a particular story from their life. Then, students will write a two page narrative essay about this story. These stories will be posted on a class blog to allow for feedback and discussion from classmates.

Title: Novel Study - Independent Reading
Description:
Students will choose a novel from a teacher-created reading list. After reading their choice novel, students will prepare a 1-1/2 to 2 minute multimedia presentation to "sell" other students on the novel. In addition, students will prepare a poster advertising their novel for display and a written summary of the novel that identifies various literary elements of the novel.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (9) 22: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences. [W.9-10.3]

Subject: English Language Arts (9), or Technology Education (9 - 12) Title: Novel Study - Independent ReadingDescription: Students will choose a novel from a teacher-created reading list. After reading their choice novel, students will prepare a 1-1/2 to 2 minute multimedia presentation to "sell" other students on the novel. In addition, students will prepare a poster advertising their novel for display and a written summary of the novel that identifies various literary elements of the novel.

Title: To Kill a Mockingbird Character Interviews - Podcast
Description:
Students will write and produce character interviews based on the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The interviews will be produced as a podcast based on characters from the novel and students' interpretation of the events in the novel, as well as its historical setting. The project will be a conclusion to the class study of the novel.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (9) 32: Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, identifying any fallacious reasoning or exaggerated or distorted evidence. [SL.9-10.3]

Subject: English Language Arts (9), or Technology Education (9 - 12) Title: To Kill a Mockingbird Character Interviews - PodcastDescription: Students will write and produce character interviews based on the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The interviews will be produced as a podcast based on characters from the novel and students' interpretation of the events in the novel, as well as its historical setting. The project will be a conclusion to the class study of the novel.

Title: This is my life!
Description:
This assignment requires you to write about your own life, your family, and the things that are influencing you so far in your personal journey. The result will be a short autobiography of your own…and hopefully a little more self-knowledge to take with you as you consider your journey in the years to come.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (10) 40: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on Grade 10 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies. [L.9-10.4]

Subject: English Language Arts (9 - 10) Title: This is my life!Description: This assignment requires you to write about your own life, your family, and the things that are influencing you so far in your personal journey. The result will be a short autobiography of your own…and hopefully a little more self-knowledge to take with you as you consider your journey in the years to come.

Title: Fibonacci Poetry
Description:
Students will review the Fibonacci sequence and compose poems with the number of syllables in each line corresponding to the the numbers of that sequence.This lesson plan was created as a result of the Girls Engaged in Math and Science University, GEMS-U Project.
Standard(s): [MA2013] AL1 (9-12) 27: Recognize that sequences are functions, sometimes defined recursively, whose domain is a subset of the integers. [F-IF3]

Subject: English Language Arts (9), or Mathematics (9 - 12) Title: Fibonacci PoetryDescription: Students will review the Fibonacci sequence and compose poems with the number of syllables in each line corresponding to the the numbers of that sequence.This lesson plan was created as a result of the Girls Engaged in Math and Science University, GEMS-U Project.

Title: All About Plants
Description:
Students will take notes on plants and as a review they will create a multimedia presentation on topics learned including information about their favorite flower. For the duration of the lesson students will also solve and create help wanted ads based on plant organs. This lesson plan was created as a result of the Girls Engaged in Math and Science, GEMS Project funded by the Malone Family Foundation.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (9) 22: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences. [W.9-10.3]

Subject: English Language Arts (9), or Science (9 - 12), or Technology Education (6 - 8) Title: All About PlantsDescription: Students will take notes on plants and as a review they will create a multimedia presentation on topics learned including information about their favorite flower. For the duration of the lesson students will also solve and create help wanted ads based on plant organs. This lesson plan was created as a result of the Girls Engaged in Math and Science, GEMS Project funded by the Malone Family Foundation.

Title: Rock Steady
Description:
Students use the knowledge of the rock cycle to write a story about a pet rock. The story must include the rock changing from magma, to each type of rock igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. The story should end with the pet rock being identified and in the hands of the student.This lesson plan was created as a result of the Girls Engaged in Math and Science, GEMS Project, funded by the Malone Family Foundation.
Standard(s): [TC2] CA2 (9-12) 11: Critique digital content for validity, accuracy, bias, currency, and relevance.

Subject: Arts Education (7 - 12), or English Language Arts (9), or Science (9 - 12), or Technology Education (9 - 12) Title: Rock SteadyDescription: Students use the knowledge of the rock cycle to write a story about a pet rock. The story must include the rock changing from magma, to each type of rock igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. The story should end with the pet rock being identified and in the hands of the student.This lesson plan was created as a result of the Girls Engaged in Math and Science, GEMS Project, funded by the Malone Family Foundation.

Title: Graphing Gallery Walk
Description:
In this lesson, students will participate in a gallery walk to realize the vast amount of information found in a graph. Students will make notes of the graphs as they rotate through the gallery. At the conclusion, students will create a story from an assigned graph.This lesson plan was created as a result of the Girls Engaged in Math and Science, GEMS Project funded by the Malone Family Foundation.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (11) 4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. (Include Shakespeare as well as other authors.) [RL.11-12.4]

Subject: English Language Arts (9 - 11), or Science (9 - 12) Title: Graphing Gallery WalkDescription: In this lesson, students will participate in a gallery walk to realize the vast amount of information found in a graph. Students will make notes of the graphs as they rotate through the gallery. At the conclusion, students will create a story from an assigned graph.This lesson plan was created as a result of the Girls Engaged in Math and Science, GEMS Project funded by the Malone Family Foundation.

Title: Travel Newsletter
Description:
In a role as the director of tourism for a student-selected city, state, or country, students conduct online research to create travel newsletters enticing tourists to visit their chosen areas. Newsletter content includes location, historical background, primary industry, attractions, and accommodations. Word processing skills implemented include newspaper columns, word art, graphic lines, serif vs. sans serif fonts, and justification.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (9) 15: Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how an author uses rhetoric to advance that point of view or purpose. [RI.9-10.6]

Title: Everyman in Everyday Language
Description:
To gain understanding of allegory and appreciate the changing nature of language, students will read, discuss, and rewrite the medieval morality play Everyman into common teenage language.
Standard(s):

Subject: English Language Arts (9), or Technology Education (9 - 12) Title: Everyman in Everyday LanguageDescription: To gain understanding of allegory and appreciate the changing nature of language, students will read, discuss, and rewrite the medieval morality play Everyman into common teenage language.

Title: Get to Know Your Library Media Center
Description:
This lesson will provide students with an orientation to the Library Media Center and the Dewey Decimal Classification System. The students will access the Alabama Virtual Library and will participate in a library scavenger hunt as a basic introduction to the library services.
Standard(s): [TC2] CA2 (9-12) 11: Critique digital content for validity, accuracy, bias, currency, and relevance.

Subject: English Language Arts (9), or Information Literacy (K - 12), or Technology Education (9 - 12) Title: Get to Know Your Library Media CenterDescription: This lesson will provide students with an orientation to the Library Media Center and the Dewey Decimal Classification System. The students will access the Alabama Virtual Library and will participate in a library scavenger hunt as a basic introduction to the library services.

Title: A Gift For Mom and Dad
Description:
Following a reading of O. Henry's "Gift of the Magi," students write an expository essay based on the connotative definition of "gift." The essay is then presented as a holiday gift. The lesson can be adapted to a variety of occasions and grade levels.
Standard(s):

Subject: English Language Arts (9), or Technology Education (9 - 12) Title: A Gift For Mom and DadDescription: Following a reading of O. Henry's "Gift of the Magi," students write an expository essay based on the connotative definition of "gift." The essay is then presented as a holiday gift. The lesson can be adapted to a variety of occasions and grade levels.

Title: Oral Presentation of Favorite Celebrity
Description:
Using the Internet to research facts about a favorite celebrity, students gain the organizational and oral presentation skills needed to successfully deliver an effective speech and slideshow presentation.
Standard(s):

Title: Letter of Introduction - Writing as a Diagnostic Tool
Description:
At the beginning of the school year, students respond to a teacher-generated questionnaire in personal letter format. As a diagnostic tool, letter writing can reveal strengths and weaknesses in composition skills, organization, sentence structure, and mechanics.
Standard(s):

Subject: English Language Arts (9), or Technology Education (9 - 12) Title: Letter of Introduction - Writing as a Diagnostic ToolDescription: At the beginning of the school year, students respond to a teacher-generated questionnaire in personal letter format. As a diagnostic tool, letter writing can reveal strengths and weaknesses in composition skills, organization, sentence structure, and mechanics.

Title: Identifying Parallel Structure in Sentences
Description:
After textbook and online instruction in parallel construction, students examine Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and the Declaration of Independence for parallelism before writing their own paragraphs.
Standard(s):

Title: Alone: Research for Survival
Description:
This role-playing lesson enhances students' creativity and develops critical thinking skills. Small groups of students conduct Internet research on the skills necessary to survive when marooned on a Pacific island. Groups present their findings to the class.
Standard(s): [TC2] CA2 (9-12) 11: Critique digital content for validity, accuracy, bias, currency, and relevance.

Subject: English Language Arts (9), or Technology Education (9 - 12) Title: Alone: Research for SurvivalDescription: This role-playing lesson enhances students' creativity and develops critical thinking skills. Small groups of students conduct Internet research on the skills necessary to survive when marooned on a Pacific island. Groups present their findings to the class.

Title: Researching Dolphins as Endangered Mammals
Description:
In this interdisciplinary lesson, students work in groups of 3-4 to use the Internet for research. Students create reports and slideshow presentations (optional) defining dolphins as mammals and as an endangered species. Students will also propose ways to prevent extinction.
Standard(s): [TC2] CA2 (9-12) 11: Critique digital content for validity, accuracy, bias, currency, and relevance.

Subject: English Language Arts (9), or Science (9 - 12), or Technology Education (9 - 12) Title: Researching Dolphins as Endangered MammalsDescription: In this interdisciplinary lesson, students work in groups of 3-4 to use the Internet for research. Students create reports and slideshow presentations (optional) defining dolphins as mammals and as an endangered species. Students will also propose ways to prevent extinction.

Thinkfinity Lesson Plans

Title: Teaching the Epic through Ghost Stories
Description:
In this lesson, students connect to the oral tradition of epic storytellers by sharing their own oral tales of ghosts and goblins and monsters.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 23: Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of the first three standards in the Language strand in Grades K-12.) [W.11-12.5]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Teaching the Epic through Ghost StoriesDescription: In this lesson, students connect to the oral tradition of epic storytellers by sharing their own oral tales of ghosts and goblins and monsters.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 9,10,11,12

Title: Exploring the Power of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Words through Diamante Poetry
Description:
Students explore the ways that powerful and passionate words communicate the concepts of freedom, justice, discrimination, and the American Dream in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s '' I Have a Dream'' speech.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 22: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 19-21 above.) [W.11-12.4]

Title: Spend a Day in My Shoes: Exploring the Role of Perspective in Narrative
Description:
In this lesson, students imagine spending a day in someone else's shoes. After reviewing the characteristics of narrative writing, they then write narratives from that person's point of view.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 21: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences. [W.11-12.3]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Spend a Day in My Shoes: Exploring the Role of Perspective in NarrativeDescription: In this lesson, students imagine spending a day in someone else's shoes. After reviewing the characteristics of narrative writing, they then write narratives from that person's point of view.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 9,10,11,12

Title: Arabic Poetry: Guzzle a Ghazal!
Description:
This lesson, from EDSITEment, contains three activities for students to understand and appreciate the intricate poetry of the ghazal, a pre-Islamic verse form still popular today. These activities involve experimenting with English rhymes in the style of the ghazal, studying real ghazal poetry to deduce its structure and rules, and group composition of ghazal-style poetry in English.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (9) 35: Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate. (See Grade 9 Language standards 36 and 38 for specific expectations.) [SL.9-10.6]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Arabic Poetry: Guzzle a Ghazal!Description: This lesson, from EDSITEment, contains three activities for students to understand and appreciate the intricate poetry of the ghazal, a pre-Islamic verse form still popular today. These activities involve experimenting with English rhymes in the style of the ghazal, studying real ghazal poetry to deduce its structure and rules, and group composition of ghazal-style poetry in English.Thinkfinity Partner: EDSITEmentGrade Span: 9,10,11,12

Title: Japanese Poetry: Tanka? You're Welcome!
Description:
This lesson, from EDSITEment, contains three activities which use the Japanese poetic form of the tanka as a prompt for students to reflect on the nature and purpose of different poetic rules and devices. The activities involve a close study of the conventions and thematic concerns of tanka poems, opportunities for students to compose their own poems, and detailed structural analysis of selected tanka.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (9) 30: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on Grade 9 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively. [SL.9-10.1]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Japanese Poetry: Tanka? You're Welcome!Description: This lesson, from EDSITEment, contains three activities which use the Japanese poetic form of the tanka as a prompt for students to reflect on the nature and purpose of different poetic rules and devices. The activities involve a close study of the conventions and thematic concerns of tanka poems, opportunities for students to compose their own poems, and detailed structural analysis of selected tanka.Thinkfinity Partner: EDSITEmentGrade Span: 9,10,11,12

Title: Renaissance Humanism in Hamlet and The Birth of Venus
Description:
After reading Shakespeare's Hamlet, students identify, analyze, and explain how elements in Botticelli's painting Birth of Venus and examples from the play illustrate the philosophy of Renaissance Humanism.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 40: Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression. [L.11-12.6]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Renaissance Humanism in Hamlet and The Birth of Venus Description: After reading Shakespeare's Hamlet, students identify, analyze, and explain how elements in Botticelli's painting Birth of Venus and examples from the play illustrate the philosophy of Renaissance Humanism.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 9,10,11,12

Title: Audio Broadcasts and Podcasts: Oral Storytelling and Dramatization
Description:
Students create their own audio dramatization of a text they have read, after exploring Orson Welles' 1938 broadcast of H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 33: Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest. [SL.11-12.5]

Title: Making Connections to Myth and Folktale: The Many Ways to Rainy Mountain
Description:
Following the model of N. Scott Momaday's The Way To Rainy Mountain, students write three-voice narratives based on Kiowa folktales, an interview with an Elder, and personal connections to theme.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (9) 30: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on Grade 9 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively. [SL.9-10.1]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Making Connections to Myth and Folktale: The Many Ways to Rainy Mountain Description: Following the model of N. Scott Momaday's The Way To Rainy Mountain, students write three-voice narratives based on Kiowa folktales, an interview with an Elder, and personal connections to theme.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 9,10,11,12

ALEX Learning Assets

Title: Multimedia Storytelling
Digital Tool:
Meograph Web Address URL:
http://www.meograph.com/ Standard(s):
[ELA2013] (11) 24: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information. [W.11-12.6]Digital Tool Description: Meograph is a multimedia storytelling web tool that enables users to create stories in chronological order while incorporating maps, video clips, music, pictures, etc. Students can create original stories or summarize texts from class while researching places, images, videos, etc as supplemental materials. Students may also type text into the presentation or record their own voice narration over the presentation.

Title:Multimedia StorytellingDigital Tool: MeographDigital Tool Description: Meograph is a multimedia storytelling web tool that enables users to create stories in chronological order while incorporating maps, video clips, music, pictures, etc. Students can create original stories or summarize texts from class while researching places, images, videos, etc as supplemental materials. Students may also type text into the presentation or record their own voice narration over the presentation.

Web Resources

Lesson Plans

Title: Creating a Second-Person Choice Story using Music
Description:
A lesson that inspires student creativity using songs that tell stories as well as story starters.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (9) 23: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 20-22 above.) [W.9-10.4]

Learning Activities

Title: Left-Brained Writing Prompts
Description:
All writing activities categorized on this page celebrate a left-brained approach to beginning a piece of writing. This page celebrates approaches that are structured. This page celebrates approaches that are logical.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (9) 29: Write routinely over extended time frames, including time for research, reflection, and revision, and shorter time frames such as a single sitting or a day or two for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences. [W.9-10.10]

Left-Brained Writing Promptshttp://writingfix.co...
All writing activities categorized on this page celebrate a left-brained approach to beginning a piece of writing. This page celebrates approaches that are structured. This page celebrates approaches that are logical.

Thinkfinity Learning Activities

Title: On the Road author Jack Kerouac embarked on his first cross-country road trip in 1947.
Description:
Students read a section from On the Road that deals with cross-country travel and reflects Kerouac's unique writing style. Students then attempt to write a narrative using Kerouac's stream-of-consciousness style.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 28: Write routinely over extended time frames, including time for research, reflection, and revision, and shorter time frames such as a single sitting or a day or two for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences. [W.11-12.10]

Title: Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, was integrated in 1957.
Description:
After viewing some footage from the actual event, students jot down thoughts and feelings of the Little Rock Nine. Students then write a bio-poem that might have been written by one of these students on this historic day.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 22: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 19-21 above.) [W.11-12.4]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, was integrated in 1957.Description: After viewing some footage from the actual event, students jot down thoughts and feelings of the Little Rock Nine. Students then write a bio-poem that might have been written by one of these students on this historic day.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 9,10,11,12

Title: Langston Hughes was born in 1902.
Description:
Students examine the poem '' Dreams'' and identify metaphors in each sentence. Groups of students then compose poems with metaphors for dreams.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 22: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 19-21 above.) [W.11-12.4]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Langston Hughes was born in 1902.Description: Students examine the poem '' Dreams'' and identify metaphors in each sentence. Groups of students then compose poems with metaphors for dreams.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 7,8,9,10,11,12

Title: Author Joel Chandler Harris was born in 1848.
Description:
Students study how regional dialect is written phonetically by reading a segment of Harris' story, as well as two others, and compare them using the Interactive Venn Diagram.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 40: Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression. [L.11-12.6]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Author Joel Chandler Harris was born in 1848.Description: Students study how regional dialect is written phonetically by reading a segment of Harris' story, as well as two others, and compare them using the Interactive Venn Diagram.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 9,10,11,12

Title: Poet Emily Dickinson was born in 1830.
Description:
Students discuss Dickinson's poem '' This Is My Letter To The World'' and use it to focus on how audience affects voice.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 24: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information. [W.11-12.6]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Poet Emily Dickinson was born in 1830.Description: Students discuss Dickinson's poem '' This Is My Letter To The World'' and use it to focus on how audience affects voice.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 9,10,11,12

Title: A Christmas Carol was the first book transmitted over radio!
Description:
Students write a script for A Christmas Carol on a level that primary students can read and perform. Older students record the performance and create a website to showcase photographs.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 33: Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest. [SL.11-12.5]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: A Christmas Carol was the first book transmitted over radio!Description: Students write a script for A Christmas Carol on a level that primary students can read and perform. Older students record the performance and create a website to showcase photographs.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 7,8,9,10,11,12

Title: Jacob Grimm, one of the Brothers Grimm, was born today.
Description:
Students compare different versions of the fairy tale Cinderella and then rewrite a lesser-known Grimm story and explain the changes they made.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 21: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences. [W.11-12.3]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Jacob Grimm, one of the Brothers Grimm, was born today.Description: Students compare different versions of the fairy tale Cinderella and then rewrite a lesser-known Grimm story and explain the changes they made.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 7,8,9,10,11,12

Title: Henry David Thoreau was born in 1817.
Description:
Students make mental '' snapshots'' of a natural setting, then capture the details of their setting by writing and then creating a class booklet of the nature walk.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 21: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences. [W.11-12.3]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Henry David Thoreau was born in 1817.Description: Students make mental '' snapshots'' of a natural setting, then capture the details of their setting by writing and then creating a class booklet of the nature walk.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12

Title: Poet Robert Burns was born in 1759.
Description:
Students read examples of traditional Scottish ballads and use this information to write and perform their own ballads.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 22: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 19-21 above.) [W.11-12.4]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Poet Robert Burns was born in 1759.Description: Students read examples of traditional Scottish ballads and use this information to write and perform their own ballads.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 7,8,9,10,11,12

Title: Today is World Poetry Day.
Description:
Students read and respond to Billy Collins' poem '' Introduction to Poetry.'' Students then write about a favorite poem and imagine the perfect way to read it.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 28: Write routinely over extended time frames, including time for research, reflection, and revision, and shorter time frames such as a single sitting or a day or two for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences. [W.11-12.10]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Today is World Poetry Day.Description: Students read and respond to Billy Collins' poem '' Introduction to Poetry.'' Students then write about a favorite poem and imagine the perfect way to read it.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12

Title: Actor Sidney Poitier was born in 1924.
Description:
Students do a journal entry about barriers that have been broken?such as age, race, and gender?that might impede them in the future, and how they can break through those barriers.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 22: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 19-21 above.) [W.11-12.4]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Actor Sidney Poitier was born in 1924.Description: Students do a journal entry about barriers that have been broken?such as age, race, and gender?that might impede them in the future, and how they can break through those barriers.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12

Title: Diarist Samuel Pepys was born.
Description:
Students write diary entries and revisit the entries as if it were a hundred years from now. Students then brainstorm and write paragraphs about life in the 21st century.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 21: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences. [W.11-12.3]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Diarist Samuel Pepys was born.Description: Students write diary entries and revisit the entries as if it were a hundred years from now. Students then brainstorm and write paragraphs about life in the 21st century.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12

Title: Today is Native American writer Leslie Marmon Silko's birthday.
Description:
Students revive elements of the oral tradition by writing about something funny that happened to them recently, sharing with classmates, and discussing the changes that occur during the retelling of the stories.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 27: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. [W.11-12.9]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Today is Native American writer Leslie Marmon Silko's birthday.Description: Students revive elements of the oral tradition by writing about something funny that happened to them recently, sharing with classmates, and discussing the changes that occur during the retelling of the stories.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12

Title: Author Garc -a M rquez was born on this day.
Description:
Students take place in a collaborative creative writing activity to begin to understand the hallmarks of the literary style known as magical realism.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 29: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on Grade 12 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively. [SL.11-12.1]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Author Garc -a M rquez was born on this day.Description: Students take place in a collaborative creative writing activity to begin to understand the hallmarks of the literary style known as magical realism.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 7,8,9,10,11,12

Title: Ezra Jack Keats was born on this day in 1916.
Description:
In celebration of Keats' birthday, students write stories that include some characters from Keats' books and practice using collage techniques with the Collage Machine.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 21: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences. [W.11-12.3]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Ezra Jack Keats was born on this day in 1916.Description: In celebration of Keats' birthday, students write stories that include some characters from Keats' books and practice using collage techniques with the Collage Machine.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: K,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12

Title: On this date in 1901, Andrew Carnegie gave $5.2 million to New York City libraries.
Description:
Students write expository and persuasive pieces with the help of the Persuasion Map and Essay Map interactives, and compare the essential features of the two modes of writing.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 21: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences. [W.11-12.3]

Title: Poet Robert Frost was born in 1874.
Description:
Students celebrate Frost's birthday by exploring his innovation in the sonnet form by studying poems and presenting them to the class.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 9: By the end of Grade 12, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, at the high end of the Grades 11-College and Career Readiness (CCR) text complexity band independently and proficiently. [RL.11-12.10]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Poet Robert Frost was born in 1874.Description: Students celebrate Frost's birthday by exploring his innovation in the sonnet form by studying poems and presenting them to the class.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 9,10,11,12

Title: Veterans Day is celebrated in the United States today.
Description:
Students write biographical poems about a soldier.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (12) 21: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences. [W.11-12.3]